The Hill News

The New York Times’s lead story, posted on its website Thursday night, " 'Bundlers’ for Obama Have Active Ties to Lobbying,' " makes the important point that “Despite a pledge not to take money from lobbyists, President Obama has relied on prominent supporters who are active in the lobbying industry to raise millions of dollars for his reelection bid.” Eric Lichtblau reports that “at least 15” of Obama’s bundlers, while not registered as lobbyists, seem to perform very much like lobbyists, sometimes working for consulting firms, sometimes for private companies. The loophole-ridden rules on lobbying allow them to avoid registration, he writes, and also to raise money for the president, host fundraisers and even push policie! s at White House meetings.

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